A Day-by-day devotional

June 10, 2023

Slumber party is over

Chronological One Year Bible Reading Plan: 2 Chronicles 10-16

Scripture of the Day: Revelation 7:9-10

A large crowd. From every nation, tribe, people and language. Not one culture is exempt. Not one race is left behind. For before God, His created humanity is united and is one. They stand in front of the Lamb of God who sits on the throne, waving palm branches, which, reminiscent of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, is a reminder that the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords alone is the King and the Lord.

Who are these people? They are the ones who have victoriously come out of the Great Persecution revealed to the Apostle John in a vision at the island of Patmos which He wrote as the book of Revelation. They are the ones who served the Lamb of God who sits on the throne, day and night, all the days of their lives. For this reason, the Shekinah glory of the living God, His dwelling presence shall be upon them, and a promise of not ever being thirsty nor hungry again is given them, and that God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

In this present day and time of ours, where pain and suffering envelope the world, the promise that one day the faithful ones who have served the Lamb of God in their earthly lives, who have been obedient to Him until the very end will no longer suffer, because they are to be in His very presence – that promise should be our hope.

People in great number from all over the world. The uncountable number of the people in the crowd point that no one is missing. The terms every nation, tribe, people and language point to their universality. They were wearing white robes and waving palm branches, showing victory through the saving power of Jesus Christ.

Do you want to be in that number? Then, it is time to wake up from our slumber and start now. Identify the Master of your life. Is it the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ whom God sent to die in the place of us for our sins? Or is it your worldy desires and passions? (Romans 13:11-14)

Jesus Christ crossed the borders when He came down from heaven into this world to dwell among us, sinners, according to the Father’s plan of redemption. He crossed the border from death on the cross to life in His victorious resurrection. Would you follow Him and also cross the borders from sin to salvation, from death to life? He crossed the borders and barriers between Jews and Gentiles, clean and unclean. Would you also cross the borders from I to we, me to us, reaching out to every lost nation, tribe, people and language whom He died on the cross for?

The decision lies with you. To be in that great crowd, pressing until triumphant in the end, entails obedience. Serving and loving God means acknowledging Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, whom He has sent to redeem the whole world from sin and obeying Him. Doing what He did – striking out boundaries and crossing borders for love.

Reflection: As much as sleeping feels good, as it replenishes the cells of our body physically, spiritually, there is a call for waking up that we need to heed to. We have to remind ourselves of our purpose and wake up from our slumber.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to stay awake as I wait on you. I know there are times when I sleep, totally exhausted from the goings-on in the world. I try to be as oblivious as I can because I am too tired to stay awake, much less fight. Help me not to be too comfortable. Always remind me of the urgency of our time. Amen.